Every January I like to figure out my running goals (which I used to call resolutions but from here on I’m going to call goals) for the upcoming year. Let’s take a peek at how my goals from last year went. Running Resolutions and My Word for 2022. My first goal for 2022 was to do more hiking on my off days. How did that go? Not so great.
I only went hiking while I was on vacation in Portugal, Costa Rica, and Asheville, oh and I did go hiking locally once. Even though I originally wanted to go hiking about once a month, that just didn’t happen. I guess I should be happy for the hiking I did do and don’t get me wrong, it was in some beautiful areas around the world so even if it wasn’t frequent, it was pretty fantastic when I did do it (see photos below from hiking in Portugal).
My second running goal for 2022 was to run different distances than the half marathon and just see what I was capable of at that point in my life. I did pretty well on that account, having run a 5k in May (and a night race at that), a 10-miler in April, and another 5k in November. I would have liked to have run a couple more races but shin splints and other things in my life put a halt to that. Still, it had been many years since I had run 5k’s and a 10-mile race so it was fun to push my body at those distances that I wasn’t used to racing.
My final goal for 2022 was to start running the Canadian provinces, with the ultimate goal of running a half marathon in all of them eventually. That didn’t happen for various reasons but I haven’t given up on that goal. When the time is right, it will happen. It may take me another 21 years to achieve that goal like it did to run all 50 states (hopefully not!) but if it does, so be it.
On to my goals for 2023. For some inspiration, I worked on a worksheet sent out by Honey Stinger, in conjunction with pro-runner and coach, Neely Spence Gracey and GRC, which I’m going to attach here if any of you want to fill it out for yourself. https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0498/2374/4162/files/Goal_Setting_Worksheet_1_Editable.pdf?v=1671219861
I’m not going to include the answers from my entire worksheet here but I’ll put a couple of things that stood out to me. One section had the questions “Why do I want to set a new goal? What goals have I already achieved?” My answer was “I’ve already achieved my goal of running a half marathon in all 50 states but I don’t feel the need to “top” that.” In other words, I don’t feel like I need to run the Canadian provinces any more than I felt like I needed to run all 50 states. It was always a goal that I felt like I would someday achieve but I also knew life sometimes has unexpected things pop up and it might take some time to achieve that goal. To me, this is a fun goal that since it includes travel and is thus more complicated since there’s time off work, money, and many other factors involved, I’m in no rush to achieve. It does give me motivation, however.
Another section of the worksheet has the questions “What gives me FOMO? Who or what inspires me? What do I value? What brings me joy?” My answer was simply, “What brings me joy is running in new places or different settings.” I almost never have FOMO; when I see other runners post online about races they ran that I didn’t, I don’t feel left out but I’m genuinely happy for them. I’m constantly inspired by other runners doing big and small things (what’s small to one person may be big to another and vice versa but it’s all important). I value my health and I know running is good for my mental and physical health. One thing that brings me joy in life is to travel to races and not only run the race but also experience that part of the world after the race.
So what are my goals for 2023? I have two goals, one of which I teased out while working on the worksheet, with the first goal being to simply have fun when running and to run races in different places when possible. There’s really no more limitations or specifics set other than that.
My second goal is to practice yoga more regularly. Before the pandemic, I used to go to a yoga class at my gym once a week and incorporate some of the basic stretches into my post-running stretching a few days throughout the week. When my gym closed and I was doing workouts at home I told myself I would continue doing yoga on my own but that got less and less often until I wasn’t practicing yoga at all. I later joined a different gym but they only offered classes online, which I’ve never been great at following regularly.
Recently my daughter asked me to do a 30-day yoga challenge with her that someone from YouTube was doing, starting on Jan. 2. While I don’t expect to continue practicing yoga every single day, especially after January is over, as long as I can continue doing yoga once a week, I’ll be happy. So far, it’s going well and we both are amazed at how quickly the time flies by during these yoga sessions together.
So that’s it! I’m keeping things simple for 2023 when it comes to running goals. What about you? Do you set running goals or intentions for the new year? If so, care to share one of your goals for 2023?
Happy running and Happy New Year!
Donna
runningtotravel 
Yes some walking goals at least 🙂
And i think Yoga is even how you breathe. Yoga is Life, so you are never to far from it.
Happy new year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice! Good luck with your goals.
I’ve been incorporating breathing aspects of yoga into my life for many years now. I just need to get back to a regular practice involving the stretches.
LikeLike
Good luck with your stretches too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those are good goals, Donna! The best part is that you want to have fun. Happy New Year!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! I’ve always said about running if I’m not having fun, I’m not going to do it. The older I get, the more I take that to heart.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree — I rarely get FOMO over races either. I’d like to add another half this year, but most likely it wouldn’t be until the Fall again so I haven’t really started to look. We still hope to make it to Asheville this Spring, but this time probably a shorter trip & I don’t really want the pressure of a race — there’s enough pressure in my life already!
I don’t have big goals for the year (obviously). My guess is we’ll make a trip to visit our friends in ME again, and I’d definitely like to do another move-exploratory trip but I don’t know when or where yet.
I liked some of the new-to-me shorter races I did in the Spring last year, so we’ll see if the stars align again for those.
Doing the Canadian Provinces sounds like a great idea, Donna!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Judy. That sounds like a nice year for you. Nothing wrong with having tentative plans and waiting to see how things go!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that first goal… it’s really mine… have fun and run races… If possible run new ones and if not, just ones I enjoy.
I used to go to a yoga class once a week too. I loved it. But I’m not good with online stuff.. I tried but I didn’t keep it up.. I need to sign up for a class and then go!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Online classes are tough because I think it’s just too easy to skip them.
LikeLike
FOMO is a terrible thing that can drive us to do things we probably shouldn’t, like running too much or taking on silly challenges.
It’s good to have a goal to kind of keep you pointed in the right direction. But as we all know reaching goals is VERY challenging. Personally, I find the challenge more enjoyable than reaching the goal.
As we get older we have to re-set our expectations to avoid injury and to decrease the probability of disappointment. We have to accept that even vague goals may not be achieved.
It is a challenge to keep up with any routine that relied on a place and an instructor to keep it going in the first place.
When there are weeks between PT visits, my routines get shorter!
That is why I think running clubs or group of friends is so important for us to keep up with our running, swimming or other activity that breaks our rear-end’s bond to our chairs!
Andy
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very well said, Andy, and I concur completely. Thank you so much for your comments.
I feel extremely fortunate to have finally found my people with my running group. For years I just ran on my own or maybe sometimes with my teenage daughter but a couple of years ago I joined a running group and those people have changed my life. We’ve become such a close knit group that even when people can’t run, they’ll still come out and walk and socialize afterwards. I encourage everyone to join a running group and if you just don’t mesh with a group, go find another until you do.
LikeLiked by 1 person